Volume 22 #4, Issue 102

Exclusive! Mossie Marvel!

After a long and frustrating journey CW is finally able to bring readers an exclusive look at the latest Mosquito to take to the skies. The Flying Heritage Collection’s (FHC) T.III is another triumph emanating from the hands of master craftsman Glyn Powell and the skilled technicians at AvSpecs backed by vision of Paul Allen. Here we take a look at the process of returning this beauty to the sky, which given previous experiences and having access to a relatively intact airframe as a starting point, proved to be a more straight forward process this time around. Thanks to FHC we were provided with unique access to capture the elegant aircraft in the air, photographer Gavin Conroy doing what he does best after numerous weather delays! The good news is that this Mossie certainly won’t be the last of the type seen in the skies over Auckland with Rod Lewis having entrusted his project to the same team. With more examples in the works New Zealand can rightly claim to be Mossie Central for some time to come!

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Flying the Gustav

Rick Volker waxes lyrical about flying the iconic Messerschmitt fighter in this informative and often humorous article. Rick was aware he would be called on to fly the aircraft, but was not expecting to do so on its public debut, this the result of the late arrival of the fighter from Germany and the fact no one else was trained to fly it for the occasion.

Mystery Aircraft - Avia B.534

One of the leading aircraft companies to emerge following the establishment of the independent Czechoslovak Republic was Avia which was founded in 1919. The subject of our article, the Avia B-534, proved to be one of the best biplanes ever produced and had the distinction of scoring the last known kill by a biplane in late 1944, well after such types had passed their use by date. Oddly it would never see combat with its country of origin. In this comprehensive article we look at the 534s development, it service with numerous foreign air forces and round out by focusing on the single relatively original survivor, along with the possibility of seeing a full scale reproduction back in Czech skies.

Hien Wrecks & Relics

In our previous issue we concentrated on the life and times of the unique Ki-61-II-KAI Hien which has recently finished its restoration in Japan. In this article we take a look at the remaining relics of this Imperial Army Air Force fighter. Sadly these are thin on the ground, however with the restoration of the Japanese example and the mouth-watering prospect of seeing a representative of this elegant bird back in the air, the Hien is undergoing somewhat of a renaissance. Given that the superb Ki-100 Goshikisen was essentially a re-engined Hein airframe; the sole known survivor is also referenced.

Ryan Rennaissance (Pt.2)

Two issues ago we ran a feature about the evolution of the military trainer iteration of the glamorous Ryan ST series, and the survivor population of those Ryans in the ‘Downunder’ regions of Australia and New Zealand, where the majority of the world’s ex-military STs reside. In this issue our goal is to identify every surviving example of the civilian Sport Trainer and record the current status of all STs outside Australasia. Canada’s sole Ryan ST owner Pete Groves and Editor Graham Orphan have collaborated to wax lyrical about a subject close to both their hearts!

Dangerous Skies Debut

Opened to the public in November was the latest jewel in the crown of Omaka’s Aviation Heritage Centre, Blenheim, New Zealand. The Centre is already world renowned for its magnificent WWI ‘Knights of the Sky’ exhibition which has wowed visitors for the past decade. This new hangar and the exhibition titled ‘Dangerous Skies’ will expand the experience into the WWII era. The displays follow a similar pattern with the larger than life dioramas capturing specific moments of history; however the step up in ‘atmosphere’ is noticeable as the impressive mood lighting targets each scene. A number of the aircraft such as the Spitfire, Anson and Yak are merely marking time and can be extricated to participate in aerial action when required -whether this be the biennial International Airshow that is Classic Fighters, or the more sedate Flying Days.